A reply to Dr. Mortons generall Defence of three nocent [sic] ceremonies viz. the surplice, crosse in baptisme, and kneeling at the receiving of the sacramentall elements of bread and wine.

SECT. XI.

HERE is set downe a reason of Mr. Hy. to proue that our Ceremonies in their use and practise are preferred and ho∣noured aboue principall parts of Gods worship: because the ablest ministers that are, may not be suffered to exercise any mi∣nisterie in England, except they will apply themselves to these Ceremonies. To this the Defendant answereth, that it is dull So∣••histry: because by this meanes onely an orderly and discreet Preacher is preferred before one that is factious and exorbitant.

Now, if ever, hee speaketh like an Ordinarie, like a Bishop, vvhen hee sitteth in his Pontificalibus, to iudge the poore ac∣cording to the Lawes of iniquitie. It seemeth some galled place of his conscience was touched, vvhen mention was made of silencing able and godly ministers for trifling ceremonies of mans invention. How much better vvere it for such men to en∣ter into their hearts betimes, and thinke vvhat answer they can giue unto God for such palpable treacherie? But to examine a little the reason that is in this answer; under the tearme of Dull Sophistri••: hee more then denieth the consequence of the rea∣son: yet if it be rightly understood, all his wit will not avoyd the dint of it. For 1. thus I take the meaning, which is the practise: he that is an able godly minister, if he will not use these ceremonies,

may not be suffered to haue place in the Ministerie: but he that will use these ceremonies, though he may neither comparatiuely to the other, nor any thing competently by himselfe, be either able or godly, shall hold his place in the Ministerie. Therefore these ceremonies are preferred before the maine things of the Law and Gospell. 2 I take it thus: though there cannot be found able & discreet conformable Ministers enough to supply all the Parishes of England, yet many able and godly men are shut out of the Mi∣nisterie because they vvill not conforme to these ceremonies: ther∣fore conformity to these ceremonies is preferred before the maine duties of Gods vvorship. If all the Defendants sharpnesse of wit can answere the bluntnesse of this Argument, vvhich every Plow∣man that is a good Christian doth usually make against the Pre∣lats proceedings, then I for my part will be contented to be called dull, for from my childhood hitherto I ever took it to be unan∣swerable.

The comparison of the Lord Chancellor vvill doe him no help in this case. For that Chancellor were unworthy of his own place, vvho would for his own pleasure, or for the circumstance of a place, which may easily be changed, put out of commission a graue wise man, when another like unto him could not be found. Beside the case is nothing like: for in the circumstance of a place for com∣missioners to meet in, there can be no conscience pretended. But here offer hath been made by the Ministers thus wronged, solemn∣ly to confirme by oath, that nothing but conscience doth keepe them from conforming.

Now for the sweet termes vvhich it pleaseth the Def. heere to use, I vvill desire no more, then that he would bring them back againe to his owne conscience, and aske that before God, 1 whe∣ther old M. Midsly of Ratsdel, vvho after he had laboured neere 50 yeare in the Ministerie to the conversion of thousands, vvas inhumanely silenced by the Bishop of Chester, vvere a factious and exorbitant man? and that vvhich I say of him because he be∣longed to Chester, I understand of many hundreds vvhich haue in like manner been oppressed. No doubt the evill servant which is spoken of, Mat. 24 49, vvhen he began to beat his fellow servants better then himselfe, called them factious and exorbitant fellows: but he vvith all that are like him, know better, and one day shall be constreyned to giue other witnesse. 2 I vvould know of the Def. also whether all or the most of them vvhich are in the Mi∣nisterie be orderly and discreet men in that religious meaning which belongeth to Ministers? This I am sure of, the voyce of all the Country goeth cleane otherwise. When M. Midsly, and his sonne after him vvere silenced at Ratsdel, all that country knoweth what

an orderly discreet Preacher came into the place. When vvorthy M. Baines vvas silenced at Cambridge, as a factious exorbitant man, there vvas, beside many other unworthy Ministers, one com∣monly called the Vicar of hell, vvho vvas kept in, as an orderly discreet Preacher. 3 If faction and exorbitancie may be charged on them that neglect a ceremonious canon upon conscience, what name shall be found fit for the Prelates, vvho vvilfully, vvithout and against conscience continually liue in and by the breach of many substantiall, ancient and wholesome Canons? for this see M. Parker of the crosse, part. 2 c. 9 s 4.